Automatic engine starting apparatus



Sept. 4, 1956 T. D. JOECK 2,761,439

AUTOMATIC ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed July 11, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet lAIR 2C CLEANER TO STARTING MOTOR INVENTOR. THOMAS D: J-OECK A TTOR/VEYSept. 4, 1956 AUTOMATIC Filed July 11, 1955 T. D. JOECK ENGINE STARTINGAPPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS D. JOECK A TTORNEY 2,761,439Patented Sept. 4, i956- AUTfili/EATIC ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS ThomasD. Joeek, Eatontown, N. 3., assiguor to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Army The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to automatic apparatus for controlling a supplyof high energy dry fuel during successive stages in the starting andwarming up cycle of internal combustion engines.

initial starting of internal combustion engines particularly at lowtemperatures has presented many serious problems. Most of thedifficulties encountered relate to the problem of converting liquidhydrocarbons to highly inflammable vapor or near vapor which is both dryand contains a high percentage of hydrocarbon. The dilficulties aremagnified by low ambient temperature conditions which create a naturalstate within the liquid fuel increasing its resistance to vaporization.Various means have been employed to suitably condition the fuel forstarting, such as injecting or radiating substantial quantities of heatat the point of vaporization. Such means is highly inefficient sincesubstantial quantities of power or fuel are required for auxiliaryheating. Moreover, in many circumstances means for obtaining thenecessary heat is not available.

The conventional manner of providing suitable fuel mixtures for startingengines is the provision of an atomizing nozzle through which a quantityof priming liquid fuel is forced during the starting period, the primingfuel being supplied in addition to that supplied by the vaporizing meanswhich functions during the normal operation of the engine. In such asystem the fuel air ratio is adjusted to provide a rich mixture withinthe cylinders. A mixture provided in this manner although rich in fuelis not efiicient because of its so-called wet character. In such a wetmixture large droplets of fuel are present which fail to vaporize andtherefore do not completely burn. Carbon deposits which result from suchincomplete combustion cause serious trouble in the engine and mustfrequently be removed.

The present invention overcomes the above deficiencies of conventionalsystems and provides a novel means for supplying high energy efiicientfuel during the complete starting cycle. tioning fuel which reduces thesize of the droplets to such small dimensions that vaporization ishighly accelerated and the mixture thus derived closely approaches acomplete vapor. This result is accomplished without the application ofheat and furthermore the device is effective at extremely lowtemperatures as low as 65 below zero Fehrenheit. The broad principle offinely dividing the liquid fuel is disclosed in my United States PatentNo. 2,532,554.

In the present invention the above stated principle of conditioning fuelfor starting is incorporated in an apparatus which automatically adjustsa plurality of controls to provide reliable starting, smooth operationof the engine during the warming up period and then converts the engineto normal operation.

Automatic control for the apparatus is accomplished The inventionincludes means for condithrough a heat responsive mechanism whichwhe ncol d conditions the whole system to respond to cranking'lof the enginein such a manner that high energy inflammable fuel is supplied to theengine and as the engine warms" up to the temperature where the enrichedfuel is no longer to normal required the system is automaticallyconverted operation by a conventional carburetor.

it is a primary object of the invention to provide an apparatus forrapidly and efficiently starting an internal combustion engine. Afurther object of the invention is to provide an automatic enginestarting system in which the fuel mixture fed to a cold engine issubjected to atomizing means capable of reducing the liquid fuel to acondition closely approaching true vaporization without the applicationof heat.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a completelyautomatic apparatus capable of starting an internal combustion engine atvery low temperatures and Z subsequently converting to normal operationof the engine by a conventional carburetor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic mechanismacting to coordinate the means for supplying an enriched fuel mixtureduring the initial phase of starting the engine, with means forconverting to normal operation by a conventional carburetor and fur-'preferred embodiment thereof wil be described and illustrated in thedrawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus showing'a'portion only of the engine.

Fig. Z'is an enlarged detail of the automatic means for controlling thesupply of fuel to the enginefor-start'ing.

purposes.

Fig. 3 is a partial view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 illustratingthe position of the elements thereof during a difierent phase of thestar-ting cycle from that shown in Fig. '2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 4-4, Fig. 5 showing 7 the details ofthe liquid fuel valve.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 55, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 6-6, Fig. 2 showing the details of theheat controlling mechanism.

In Fig. 1 of the drawingsthe invention is shown applied to a gasolineengine equipped with an intake and exhaust manifold 10 to which aconventional carburetor 11 is secured. The carburetor feeds'fuel .to thelower section of the manifold 10 which contains the intake. ports forthe engine while the separate upper section of. the

manifold communicates with the exhaust ports of the engine. shown sincetheir construction may be conventional and their function does notrelate directly to the invention.

Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates the .moveableflelements of theapparatus in the position they assumewhen' the engine has been idle andits temperaturehas reached or substantially reached that of thesurrounding air. At

The remaining portions of the engine are not this time the main throttlevalve 12 has been opened by an engine speed governor to which it isconnected.- The governor is not shown but it is connected to the valve12 by a crank 13 secured to the pivot shaft of thelvalve and aconnecting link 14 pivoted to the end of the.

crank 13.

Under certain circumstances, for example; if it were desired to controlthe engine manually by operation of the valve 12, this valve could servethe double purpose 1 9 tion of the novel starting equipment to bedescribed.

of a main control for the engine and also to close the passage to theconventional carburetor during the opera- In therspecific applicationofthe'invention presented herein, however, theloperation of the engine ismade as automaticas possible. Therefore, the device illustratedhereinis. adaptedto be operated in connection: with a speedgoverningldevice which actuates the valve 12 in accordance. with. thepower demands of the engine. In such governing devices the valvev isopen while the engine is idle. and therefore is. shown in itsopenposition in Figs. 1 andySQ.

For proper operation of the starting means at this time the fuelipassagefrOm the carburetor 11 must be closed or. very'nearly closed- Toclosethis passage, therefore, another butterfly valve 15-is situated in. thepassage and its operation is controlled by the starting apparatus. Atthe beginning of the starting and warm-up period the valve 15 is closedas shown in Fig. 5. When the engine is cranked, therefore, a relativelyhigh vacuum is created inthe intake manifold 17. This conditioncauses arapid flow of-air through a fuel conditioningdevice 18 having anairinlet conduit 19 connecting it to theouter air or to an air cleaner 20.The device 18'desirably is received in a. threaded aperture in the wallof the intake manifold and is supplied-with liquid fuel from a pipe'21-in a manner torbe specifically described;

The fuel conditioning means 18 suppliesv an enriched dry mixture of fueland air tothe engine during the startingjand warm up period and isdescribed in detail in an application by thepresent inventor filed inthe U. S. Patent Oflice on January 5, 1954, hearing SerialNo. 402,419;Liquid fuel is fed to a chamber 22 within the body23 of the device 18through. the pipe 21. At the same time air flows thereto from theconduit 19: The supplyof air enters the chamber 22' through an annularjet 24: The fuel and air 'are mixed in the chamber 22 and pass into theintake manifold of the engine. The dimensions of the chamber 22 are soadjusted that the air entering the chamber at substantial velocity setsup supersonic vibrations withinthe chamber. which violently agitate themixture in the resonance chamber 22. This agitation subdivides the fueldroplets to a size sosmall that in-eflfectthe mixture emerging from thechamber is substantially equivalent to avapor which is readily ignitedandburns completely and instantly withinthe cylinders.

To utilize to the fullest extent the advantages of the fuel conditioner18, the present invention coordinates additional elements therewith in.a novel .manner which renders the complete-starting cycle of the enginesubstantially automatic. The complete cycle referred to includes initialstartingof a cold engine, warming up the engine and converting from'thespecialized starting elements to operation. by a conventional carburetorafter normal temperature has beenreached.

To accomplish thisresult the flow of fuel-through the conditioner. 18 iscontrolled-to accordwith the demands of the engine during the variousphases of itsstarting cycle. Also. the valve 15 is automaticallyadjusted to coordinate the system when: converting from operation of theengine by enriched starting fuel mixtures to operation by theconventional-carburetor 11.

In. the. interest of compactness and adaptability the liquid fuelcontrolling means and the valve 15 are received in. a unitary bodymember 25' 'having fiat parallel sides which permitit to be receivedbetween the flange 26 of I =the-intake. manifold and the flange 27 ofthe carburetor 11; The member 25 is clamped in position'in anysuitableshaft 29 extending diametrically across the aperture 28. One end of theshaft 29 projects from its bearing to receive an actuating member to bedescribed hereinafter. The other end of the shaft 29 projects into thechamber of a fuel valve formed in the member 25 and shown in detail inFig. 4 of the drawings. The valve is provided with a chamber 30 at oneend thereof within which is received a closure member 31 which is forcedagainst the valve seat by a compression spring 32 received atone end ina recess in the closure 31 and is seated at its other end against afitting 33 to which is connected a tube 21 which in turn is connected tothe conditioner 18. The closure 31 cuts off the flow of fuel by engaginga seat 35 in the valve body 25. To provide a tight seal when the valveis closed a toroidal member 36 of rubber or other yieldable material isprovided. The closure member 31 is of slightly less diameter than thechamber 30 to permit free flow of liquid when the valve is open and alsoto meter the quantity of fuel passing therethrough; Fuel enters.

the valve through the fitting 38 and the aperture 37. To operate thevalve closure 31, the end 39 of the shaft 29 is flattened at 40 topresent the cam face which engages the extension 41 of the closure 31.Rotation of the shaft 29, therefore, actuates the closure into its openand closed positions.

A thermostatic means is provided for automatically controlling thesupply of starting fuel to the engine in response to engine temperature.The necessary movement for such control is provided by' the expansionand contraction of a bimetallic member 42 which is housed in a heatchamber 43. The chamber may be constructed in any suitable fashion.44.is secured to a base plate 45 which in turn is secured to the exhaustmanifold 46. An aperture in the manifold 46 registers with an aperture47 in the plate 45. Secured tothe plate 45 is a hot gas controlling anddeflecting device 48. This device is composed of a body 49 having anaperture therein positioned to register with the aperture 47. The upperportion of the member 49 is cut away for substantially one half of itsthickness and a cover plate 50 is secured thereto to present afan-shaped up-' Wardly directed channel 51 through which hot gases fromthe exhaust manifold are directed against the bimetal 42 which in turnis arched over the assembled member 48 as shown in Fig. 2. In thisposition the bimetal is in the direct path of the gases from the exhaustmanifold.

One end. of the bimetal 42 is rigidly fixed to a bracket 52secured tothe plate 45 while its other end is secured to an arm 53 which moveswith the bimetal as its temperature changes and imparts such motion to alink 54 which in turn is pivoted upon a connecting lug 55 adjustablyfixed to a plate 56 which will hereinafter be termed a program platebecause it determines the extent of rotation of the shaft 29 atdifferent times in the complete starting and running cycle. hand end ofplate 36 and is secured in position by a suitable set screw.

' Meansare provided for'opening and closing a valve 57 situated in theopening through the member 49, the plate 45 and the aperture leading totheiexhaust manifold. This valve desirably is of the butterfly type andis secured to a shaft 58 pivotably received in the member 49. The lowerend of the shaft has secured thereon a small crank 59 having a link 60pivoted at one end to the pivot pin of the crank and pivoted at itsother end to the moving end of the bimetal member at 61.

The program plate is guided in a straight horizontal path and supportedby a pair of pins 62 rigidly secured in the member 25 which ride inslots 63 as the plate moves. The plate is also provided with a slot 64in which the shaft 29 is received. The plate 56 coacts with a sectormember. 65 secured to and rotating with the shaft 29;

The sector has secured therein a pair of spaced pins 66 projectingperpendicularly from its face into a position wherein the pinswillengage a plurality of control surfaces As shown the sheet metalcover The lug 55 is adjustable along the left formed in the plate whichact to limit and control the position of the sector 65 in a manner to bedescribed in connection with the description of operation of theapparatus to be presented hereinafter.

A still further control is effected through electromagnetic action. Whenthe starting switch 67 is closed current from the battery 68 flows tothe starting motor and also in the circuit 69 which energizes the magnet70. A switch 71 is provided which normally is closed but may be openedto render the electromagnetic means inoperative. The magnet 79 whenenergized acts upon an armature 72 pivoted at 73 upon the frame 74. Thearmature has an extension 75 to which a link 76 is pivotally connected.The other end of the link is pivoted at 77 to a short arm extending fromthe sector 65 so that actuation of the magnet tends to rotate the shaft29. When the magnet is energized the downward motion of the armature islimited by a stop 78. The link 76 is of special construction and iscomposed of two telescoping sections which are yieldingly held inrelative axial position by a tension spring 79 received in an enlargedcylindrical chamber in the lower section. The lower end of the uppersection is provided with a head portion 80 movable in the chamber and towhich one end of the spring is secured. The other end of the spring issecured to a removable cap 81 within which the upper link section isslidably received,

In describing the operation of the apparatus it will be assumed that theengine has been idle for a substantial period and has assumed ambienttemperature which may be very low such as temperatures found in arcticregions. At this time all of the elements of the device have assumed thepositions shown in full lines in the drawings with the exception ofFigs. 3 and 6. The bimetal 42 has moved the plate 56 into its right handposition and the link 66 and crank 59 have opened the valve 57. Also atthis time a projection or cam member 82 has engaged the right hand pin66 on the sector 65 to rotate the shaft 29 clockwise which opens thevalve 25 and admits liquid fuel to the conditioner 18 and also closes orsubstantially closes the valve 15.

In Fig. l of the drawing the switch 67 is shown closed which draws thelink 76 into its extreme downward position at which time the segment 65is given a slight movement in addition to that derived from the plate 56which substantially closes the valve shown by the dotted position of thepins 66. Prior to the cranking period the valve assumes a slightly openposition which is its correct position for the warming up phase of thecomplete cycle as shown by the full line position of the pins in Fig. 2.This slight movement is permitted by a slotted portion 83 of the plate56.

During the cranking period a high vacuum is created in the intakemanifold 17 which causes a rapid flow of air and a consequent flow offuel in the conditioner 18 where a highly efficient rich and dry fuel isdeveloped through the supersonic action referred to. This fuel passesinto the intake manifold and thence to the engine cylinders where it isreadily ignited and burns completely thus developing sufficient power tostart the engine even though its temperature is very low.

When the engine is thus started the starter switch is opened andreleases the armature 72, which frees the sector 65 which moves thevalve 15 counter-clockwise into the position represented by the fullline position of the pins 66. This movement is due to spring action tobe described. Thus slightly more air enters the system through thecarburetor 11 whose valve 12 is at least partially opened by thegovernor since the engine is now running slowly.

During this phase of the starting cycle the heated gases in the exhaustmanifold are permitted to enter the chamber 43 and act to heat thebimetal 42 which starts to move the plate 56 toward the left. During thewarm-up period this movement permits the sector 65 and thus the valve 15to gradually open under the action of a spring 84 which moves thearmature 72 upward a sufficient distance to tension the spring 79 in thelink 76 When a point is reached in the counter-clockwise rotation of thesector and valve where the right hand pin 66 rides over the outer end ofthe projection 82 the spring is free to quickly open the valve 15 to itsmaximum open position determined by the arrival of the left hand pin 66at the bottom of the slot 85 as shown in Fig. 3. At this time thebimetal has been heated to the temperature where it has moved the plate65 into its hot running position shown in Fig. 3, and the valve 25 isclosed. Thus the starting mechanism ceases to function and the enginemay now be operated by the carburetor 11 either manually or by means ofa governor through the link 14 connected to the valve 12.

Assuming another condition wherein the engine is stopped and againstarted while it is still at maximum temperature or partially cooled. Tostart the engine under the above conditions the starting switch isclosed which pulls down the link 76 and rotates the valve 15 against theaction of the spring 84 until the right hand pm 66 engages the upperedge 85 of the plate 56 as shown in Fig. 3. Tins position is calculatedto be an intermediate position between closed and Wide open position ofthe valve and just sufficient to start the hot engine. At this time thegoverner will have opened the main valve 12. Since the armature 72 andits extension 75 tend to move into their extreme bottom position theover riding motion thereof beyond that at which the pin 66 engages theplate 56 is provided for by the spring 79 in the link 76.

When the starting switch is again opened tthe segment 65 will return toits hot running position and normal operation of the engine will resume.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a carburetorand an intake manifold, an automatic engine starting apparatuscomprising a starting fuel conditioning means having liqud fuel and airsupplying connections and a resonance chamber wherein fuel and air arevibrated at supersonic frequency, connection from the output of saidconditioning means to said intake manifold, starting fuel controllingmeans including a choke valve and a liquid fuel valve, meanssimultaneously to close said choke valve and open said liquid fuelvalve, a heat sensitive actuating means responsive to enginetemperature, means connecting said heat responsive means to saidstarting fuel controlling means, said heat sensitive means beingadjusted to close said choke valve and open said liquid fuel valve, whenthe engine is cold and to reverse the valve positions when the engineassumes hot running temperature, and means communicating from said chokevalve opening to said carburetor.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a.carburetor and an intake manifold, an automatic engine startingapparatus comprising a starting fuel conditioning means having liquidfuel and air supplying connections and a resonance chamber wherein airand fuel are vibrated at supersonic frequency, a connection from theoutlet of said fuel conditioning means to said intake manifold, startingfuel controlling means including a choke valve operable to close theconnection from said intake manifold to said carburetor and a liquidfuel valve operable to control the flow of liquid from a source of fuel,means simultaneously to close said choke valve and open said liquid fuelvalve, a heat sensitive valve actuating means responsive to enginetemperature, means connecting said heat responsive means to saidstarting fuel con trolling means, said heat responsive means beingadjusted to close said choke valve and open said fuel valve when theengine is cold and to reverse the valve positions when the engine hasassumed hot running temperature, means connected to said 'heatresponsive means acting to limit the movement of and hold said startingfuel controlling means in a plurality of predetermined positionsdetermined by the temperature of the engine.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intakeand exhaust manifold and a carburetor connected to the intake manifold,an automatic engine starting apparatus comprising a starting fuelconditioning means having liquid fuel and air inlet connections and aresonance chamber therein in which the air and fuel are vibrated atsupersonic frequency, a connection to feed the conditioned fuel to saidintake manifold, starting fuel controllingrmeans including the chokevalve operable to close the connection from said intake manifold to saidcarburetor and a valve to control the flow of liquid fuel to saidconditioning means from a fuel supply, means operable simultaneously toclose said choke and open said liquid valve, a bi-metallic memberresponsive to engine temperature, means connecting said bi-metallicmember to said starting fuel controlling. means, said bi-metallic meansand its connection being adjusted to close said'choke and open saidliquid valve when the engine is cold and to reverse the valve positionswhen the engine has assumed hot running temperature, a movable programplate connected to and moving with said bi-metallic member, controlsurfaces on said plate acting to limit the movement of and to hold saidstarting fuel controlling means in positions corresponding topredetermined engine temperatures and a throttle valve in the conduitfrom said'carburetor to said intake manifold operable to control theengine when it has reached hot running temperature.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intakeand an exhaust manifold and a carburetor connected to said intakemanifold, an automatic engine starting apparatus comprising a startingfuel conditioning means having liquid fuel and air supplying connectionsand a resonance chamber therein in which the fuel and air are vibratedat supersonic frequency, a connection to feed conditioned fuel to saidintake manifold, a butterfly valve in the conduit from said carburetorto said intake manifold having an operating shaft, a liquid fuel valvesituated adjacent said butterfly valve and having a closure member, anextension on said shaft operable to open said valve closure when saidbutterfly valve is closed and to close said liquid valve when saidbutterfly valve is open, an outside extension of said shaft having anactuating sector secured thereto, a bi-metallic member responsive toengine. temperature, means connecting said bi-metallic member to saidsegment, said bi-metallic member and its connection being adjusted toclose said butterfly valve and open saidliquid valve when the engine iscold and through the action of said bi-metallic member to reverse thevalve positions when the engine has assumed hot running temperature.

5. Automatic internal combustion engine starting apparatus according toclaim 4 together with a valve inthe having an intake manifold, acarburetor. and an electric.

motor cranking means, automatic engine starting'app'aratus comprisingstarting fuel conditioning means having fuel and air supply connectionsand a resonant chamber in which the liquid fuel and air are vibrated atsupersonic frequency, a connection-from the outlet of said conditioningmeans to said intake manifold, starting fuel controlling means includinga choke valve operable to close the connection from said carburetor tosaid intake manifold and a liquid fuel valve, valve actuating meansoperable simultaneously to close said'choke andopen-said liquid valve, aheat sensitive means responsive to engine temperature, a connection fromsaid heat sensitive means tossaid valve actuating means, said heatresponsive means and its connection being adjusted to close said chokeand open said'liquid valve when the engine is cold and to reverse thevalve positions when the engine hast'assumed hot running temperature, anelectromagnetically actuated 7 control means electrically connected tothe starting motor circuit and having a magnetically actuated leverconnected to said starting fuel controllingmeans, said lever acting,when the starting motor is functioning to move said choke valve to itsposition of maximum closure, spring means acting to slightly opensaidchoke when said starting motor switchis opened and a programplate'moved into various positions by said heat sensitive means, saidpositionsbeing: determined by engine temperature, said program plateacting to establish said slightly open position of said choke" while theengine is warming up, said program pl-atealso having a stop surface.thereon acting to establish a predetermined starting position of saidstarting fueleontrolling means when the engine is restarted after it hasas-- sumed hot running temperature.

No references cited;

